Save a Horny Toad, Buy a Burger and a Beer!

(Updated) The Horny Toad restaurant in Cranfills Gap, Texas is one heck of a place to grab a burger.  The suggestion rolled into the Austin Citysphere on Facebook, when we announced our 7 Best Burgers of Central Texas tour.  After all, if Horny Toad's burger was voted the best hamburger worth driving 50 miles for by Ride Texas Magazine, then the two and a half hours (100+ miles in the rain!) it took us to get there would make the burger extra awesome.

Aside from the burger being great, the people are even better.  Dusty and Misty Glass, the proprietors, opened up the Horny Toad when the town went wet.  Their original partners are no longer in business with them.  That's when Misty's mom and dad, Sandi and Owen Carlson, joined the venture.  Now it's completely a family affair!  "I think in a lot of ways our family has grown because we have met so many just amazing people," Sandi said.

Misty says if you've never been to the Horny Toad, get the burger.  On your subsequent visits, get the quesadilla.  You'll also find the Danwich on the menu, and the Bitchwitch.  Wonder what the difference is?  You'll have to watch the video, or take a drive to Cranfills Gap to find out for yourself!

Owen wouldn't reveal his secret burger recipe.  He told us, "We've worked over the years at trying to get our seasoning down right.  We have a certain season that we put on it and a certain recipe and it gets all mixed together.  It seems to be working very well."

We whole-heartedly agree!  The burger=fantastic.  The quesadilla=awesome!  Biting into the burger, you'll taste the nicely buttered bun.  The meat is cooked to perfection.  You won't find yourself wondering what would make this burger juicier.  It comes juicy.  We like to try the burgers "house" style, meaning the burger that people come for.  Nothing fancy, nothing with too much extra stuff.  Horny Toad has that down home style burger.  It's perfect for such a down home, family restaurant.  Plus, the salsa that comes with the quesadilla is homemade and for the spice lover in you (or the one in your life), you need to get this. 

Enjoy the video and your trip to the Horny Toad.  You won't regret it.

Under new Federal Trade Commission guidelines, which require bloggers to disclose information regarding potential conflicts for items reviewed in their blogs, the writer of the Austin Citysphere received lunch free of charge from the Horny Toad.

A Big Side of Fries Fills Us Up With Lots of Places to Try

Our Side of Fries continues with some burger happenings from across our great city.  I'm starting to wonder why Austin is known for music when in all honesty, it should be known for hamburgers.

A frugal Google search (Googling never costs a penny!) pulls up a delicious list of possibilities for your burger wants - er - needs - er - cravings!

So many burger places have been coming into the Austin Citysphere lately via recommendations and word of mouth suggestions, I almost forgot about some staples!  For example, Hut's Hamburgers is always delicious.  The problem with Hut's is you have to decide just how mess you want to get.  The internet search on Urbanspoon revealed a few places I've been and many I have not been.  On the have-tried list: Mighty Fine, Hut's, Five Guys, P Terry's and Phil's Ice House.  Although I've tried the Screaming Goat, I have not had the hamburger.  Do they even have hamburgers?  I've only had the chips and salsa and the tacos.  Good stuff, though.

My have-not-tried list (on this particular list): Casino El Camino, Galaxy Cafe (same story, I've been there but did not have the burger.... or did I?  Is that revealing in and of itself?), and Pecan Street Station.

Now, I have many on the must try list.  Your Mom's is high on the list.  I've heard great things about it and I must admit, right now it's causing some frustration.  So, it has to be great when I go because there's this big buildup.

I've driven by Downtown Hamburgers a lot and still haven't been!  It's been a Readers' Choice winner several times, and the burger trailer has garnered these fine reviews:

Simply the best Trailer burgers in Texas. If you are looking for propane-cooking at its best, quickly head down to Down Town Burgers. - Bubba, Texas Trailer Assoc 

No better place to impress your guests. Down Town Burgers is clearly an exceptional experience in trailer dining. The intimate lighting is outstanding as well. Delectable! - Brian Dunne, Trailer Times

Now, who doesn't want a supremely cooked propane patty?  While at Max Parfait, I got a recommendation to go to Black Sheep.  A buddy told me Casino El Camino is the bomb.  But expect a wait and if you ask where your food is, you get pushed to the back of the order list.  Texas Roadhouse in Bastrop served up a great burger, as did Moonies Burger House.  Of the chain houses, I do like Five Guys but I am not a Mighty Fine fan.  Their burgers aren't mighty (kind of puny, if you ask me) and I'm fine with eating it, but it's not my first choice.  I do like Cafe Canela a whole heck of a lot (as previously mentioned) in north Austin off Burnet and 183.

Next up on the big 7 Best Burgers of central Texas tour is Horny Toad in Cranfills Gap.  Stay tuned for that, and keep the suggestions rolling in!

Seven Burgers of Central Texas: the Beginning

As we here at The Austin Citysphere begin the mission to find the best burger in central Texas, we stopped at an old favorite.  Old is, well, relative.  Cafe Canela, formerly Geaux Burger, formerly Mooyah Burger, is a fantastic burger place in north Austin.  We learned today Cafe Canela is managed and owned by Alvaro Valencia, who used to manage (but not own) Geaux and Mooyah Burger.  Valencia has kept up the "old" style burger that kept us coming back for more.  Thankfully, the burger is still around.  Following Mooyah's closure, we were devastated!  Only this time with Cafe Canela, he's added burritos and fajitas as well for a Mexican flair.

It's only fitting the journey begins here as we talk to Beatriz Tavera, an employee who told us quite frankly, she avoids eating at home so she can eat when she gets to work.  That's a compliment from a cashier who says her past places of employment weren't always up to par with the food, and she'd bring her own lunch to work!

On a related note, ACS received word from a good friend, Carol Pfeiffer, who recommended the Horny Toad in Cranfills Gap as one of the best burgers around!  Their title is apparently verified because they were nominated by Ride Texas magazine for the honor!  Looks like ACS has a little road trip ahead... boy, it's gonna be tough eating so many delicious burgers for this contest.

If you have a burger suggestion, send it by clicking here.